Systems and methods for synchronizing multiple electronic devices

ABSTRACT

Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/681,193, filed Aug. 18, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/052,503, filed Feb. 24, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.9,769,778, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/945,493, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,307,508, filed Jul. 18, 2013, whichclaims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/816,972,filed Apr. 29, 2013.

All of the above-identified patent applications are incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD

This application generally relates to synchronizing multiple electronicdevices. In particular, the application relates to platforms andtechniques for determining latency time values associated with multipleelectronic devices to synchronize playback of audio from the multipleelectronic devices.

BACKGROUND

Various known electronic devices support audio playback through audiocomponents such as external speakers. For example, a user may usespeakers for audio playback in situations in which the user does nothave or does not wish to use headphones or earbuds. In some cases,respective users of multiple electronic devices may wish to collectivelylisten to a song via the respective speakers of their multipleelectronic devices. The resulting combined audio from the multiplespeakers may be louder than audio output from a single speaker andtherefore may provide a better listening experience for the users.

Existing techniques for syncing and playing audio from multiple speakersresult in inaccurate setup and, accordingly, out-of-sync audio playback.In particular, the existing techniques do not account for various timingoffsets, latency buffering, and re-connecting attempts. Additionally,the existing techniques do not adequately handle packets of audio datato facilitate the audio playback from the multiple devices. Accordingly,there is an opportunity to implement embodiments for syncing multipleelectronic devices such that audio playback from the multiple electronicdevices is synchronized. Additionally, there is an opportunity toimplement embodiments for exchanging data parameters among multipleelectronic devices to initiate audio playback and accurately synchronizethe audio playback based on the data parameters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed embodiments, andexplain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts an example representation of electronic devices capableof group audio playback in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts an example diagram associated with initiating audioplayback on multiple electronic devices in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts an example diagram associated with multiple electronicdevices switching audio playback roles in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts an example diagram associated with adding an electronicdevice to an audio playback session in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts an example diagram associated with synchronizing multipleelectronic devices in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6-11 depict example interfaces associated with an audio playbackapplication in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 12A and 12B depict a flow diagram of initiating audio playback onmultiple electronic devices in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 depicts a flow diagram of initiating modifying audio playback onmultiple electronic devices in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 depicts a flow diagram of syncing audio playback on multipledevices in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 depicts a flow diagram of adding an electronic device to anaudio playback session in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an electronic device in accordance withsome embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments as detailed herein enable multiple electronic devices toplay or output audio via their speakers with reduced or eliminatedsynchronization issues. In this way, one or more users of the electronicdevices can listen to the audio without experiencing delays or offsetsin the audio output timing of the respective electronic devices. At agiven time, one of the electronic devices is deemed a master device andthe remaining one or more electronic devices are deemed slave devices.

According to some embodiments, the master device can detect one or moreslave devices via near field communication (NFC) and connect to theslave devices via a wireless connection, such as Wi-Fi Direct or anotherwireless connection. The master device can query the slave devices andcalculate a network latency time value for each slave device based on atime when the master device receives a response from that slave device.The master device can send the calculated network latency time value toeach slave device for storage on each slave device. The master devicecan establish an audio playback session with the slave devices and sendportions of an audio file as well as a playback timing instruction toeach slave device, where the playback timing instruction can include acurrent system time of the master device. Each slave device cancalculate a system clock offset value according to the current systemtime of the master device, the respective system time of each slavedevice, and the calculated network latency time value. According toembodiments, the master device can initiate playback of the audio fileand the slave devices can initiate playback of the audio file accordingto their playback timing instructions as well as their calculated systemclock offset values such that the audio playback can occur on both themaster and slave devices with little or no delay issues.

In some embodiments, the master device and the slave devices can refineany sync discrepancies via manual input from a user or via automaticcalculations based on hardware latency, elapsed time discrepancies,and/or playback of various audio sync data. Further, a master device ora slave device can modify the audio playback according to pause, fastforward, rewind, skip, and other playback commands received via a userinterface and, in some cases, the slave device can switch roles with themaster device according to various commands initiated from the slavedevice. In further embodiments, an additional slave device can join anexisting audio session between a master device and one or more slavedevices.

The embodiments as discussed herein offer a benefit to users byeffectively and efficiently reducing or eliminating sync issues that canbe experienced during “group audio” sessions. Instead of users having tomanually sync audio playback from multiple devices, the embodimentsoffer techniques to sync electronic devices based on hardware andsoftware latencies and network latencies and to issue playbackinstructions based on the syncing, thus improving playback timing. Theembodiments further offer the benefit of manually and automaticallyadjusting timing parameters to improve synchronization accuracy. Theusers can therefore leverage the speakers from multiple device speakersto produce a more desirable listening experience, as the speakers of asingle electronic device may not be capable of producing a preferredlevel of sound. Delays among the group of devices of less than 100milliseconds, compared to another device, are acceptable under somecircumstances, depending on the frequency (frequency response),amplitude (dynamic range), tempo, and other acoustic features of theaudio recording. The manual and/or automatic adjustment of timingparameters may either reduce delays to improve absolute timingsynchronization or increase delays to improve psychoacoustic perceptionof sound localization (e.g., left and right channel separation orauditory scene creation) or other desired effects (e.g., reverb anddelay).

It should be noted that the disclosures in this specification are madeand intended to be interpreted to their broadest extent under the patentlaws, and that while the systems and methods described herein may beemployed broadly in numerous applications and embodiments consistentwith their capabilities, nothing in this disclosure is intended toteach, suggest, condone, or imply noncompliance with any other law orregulation that may be applicable to certain usages or implementationsof the systems and methods. For example, while the systems and methodsdisclosed herein are technologically capable of copying, transmitting,and playback of media files and associated artwork or other metadata,such capabilities and functionalities should not be construed as ateaching, recommending, or suggesting use of such capabilities andfunctionalities in a manner that does not comply with all applicableexisting laws and regulations, including without limitation, applicablenational, state, and common law privacy or copyright laws. Again, suchbroad disclosure is intended for compliance with and interpretationunder the patent laws and regulations.

The electronic devices as described herein utilize system clocks thatfacilitate the functionalities according to a “relative timing”approach, whereby timing commands are programmed and latencies arecalculated based on the relative differences in clock readings anddelays calculated therefrom. For example, a master electronic device cancommand a slave device to start playing an audio file 1.15 seconds afterreceipt. However, it should be appreciated that the electronic devicescan similarly facilitate the functionalities according to an “absolutetiming” approach, whereby timing commands are programmed and latenciesare calculated based on readings from a common clock. For example, amaster device and a slave device can access the same clock, and themaster device can command the slave device to start playing an audiofile at 12:59:59.55 pm.

FIG. 1 is an example representation 100 of electronic devices capable ofgroup audio playback. As shown in FIG. 1, a group of users 101, 102, 103having respective electronic devices 104, 105, 106 can be located withina proximity 107 to each other, as represented by the dashed circle. Thisproximity 107 may be bounded by the wireless communication range of atleast one of the devices 104, 105, 106. Each of the electronic devices104, 105, 106 may be, for example, a handheld wireless device, such as amobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart phone, atablet or laptop computer, a multimedia player, an MP3 player, a digitalbroadcast receiver, a remote controller, or any other electronicapparatus. Although the embodiments envision the electronic devices 104,105, 106 as portable and hand-held, it should be appreciated that othernon-portable devices are envisioned. Each of the electronic devices 104,105, 106 can optionally exchange information with a network 110, such asa cellular network, such as in cases in which one or more of theelectronic devices 104, 105, 106 retrieves audio data from the network110.

According to embodiments, the electronic devices 104, 105, 106 canconnect to and communicate with each other via various wirelessconnections. For example, the electronic devices 104, 105, 106 caninitially detect each other via near field communication (NFC). Inparticular, respective NFC components of the electronic devices 104,105, 106 such as NFC tags and/or NFC chips can detect proximity withother NFC components and establish NFC connections using uniqueidentifications. The electronic devices 104, 105, 106 can also includecommunication modules that enable the electronic devices 104, 105, 106to wirelessly connect to each other, such as via a Wi-Fi Directconnection or a Wi-Fi connection.

In operation, the users 101, 102, 103 may wish to establish a “groupplay” of audio whereby external speakers of their respective electronicdevices 104, 105, 106 are leveraged to simultaneously output audio.According to embodiments, the electronic devices 104, 105, 106 areconfigured to sync with each other based on network and/or hardware andsoftware latencies, whereby one of the electronic devices 104, 105, 106is deemed the master device and the remaining electronic devices aredeemed slave devices. For purposes of explanation, assume that theelectronic device 104 is the master device and the electronic devices105, 106 are the slave devices. The master electronic device 104 canfacilitate a syncing technique with the slave electronic devices 105,106 to determining timing for audio playback. Further, the masterelectronic device 104 can select an audio file and send portions of theaudio file to the slave electronic devices 105, 106 via the wirelessconnections. The master electronic device 104 can initiate playback ofthe audio file based on the syncing information and can send playbackinstructions for the audio file to the slave electronic devices 105,106, where the playback instructions are also based on the syncinginformation.

In some embodiments, the electronic devices 104, 105, 106 can switchroles whereby a slave device can become a master device and vice-versa.For example, a slave device can select a new audio playlist whichtriggers a request to a master device for a role change. In otherembodiments, an additional user 108 may wish to join his or herelectronic device 109 to the audio playback session among the otherelectronic devices 104, 105, 106. When the additional electronic device109 is within the proximity 107, the master device of the audio playbacksession can connect to the electronic device 109, facilitate the syncingtechnique to establish proper timing with the electronic device 109, andsend appropriate audio file portions and playback timing instructionssuch that the electronic device 109 can output the audio file in syncwith the other electronic devices 104, 105, 106. In some embodiments theadditional electronic device 109 is invited to the group audio sessionthrough an NFC communication with one of the devices 104, 105, 106already in the group audio session.

Referring to FIG. 2, depicted is an example diagram 200 associated withinitiating audio playback in a master device 204 and a slave device 205.Although FIG. 2 depicts only the master device 204 and one slave device205, it should be appreciated that the functionalities of the diagram200 can be implemented with multiple slave devices. The audio playbackinitiating can begin with an NFC pairing whereby the master device 204sends 212 a unique ID to the slave device 205 via an NFC transfer andtriggers 214 an NFC connection complete response. In embodiments, theslave device 205 can send an NFC connection success message to themaster device 204 to acknowledge reception of the unique ID.

The master device 204 can initiate 216 a wireless connection broadcastwith the slave device 205 and the slave device 205 can connect 218 tothe master device 204 via the wireless connection. In some embodiments,the master device 204 can broadcast a Wi-Fi Direct service containingthe unique ID of the master device 204 as well as service types uniqueto the audio initiation so as not to collide with other Wi-Fi Directservices. Further, in some embodiments, the slave device 205 canbroadcast its service as well as attempt to discover services and, whenthe slave device 205 finds a service that matches the unique ID of themaster device 204, the slave device 205 can stop broadcasting itsservice and attempt to connect to the service of the master device 204.The master device 204 and the slave device 205 can further receiveinformation about the connection (e.g., the IP address of the masterdevice 204) so that the roles (i.e., which device is the master andwhich device is the slave) can be established. Further, the masterdevice 204 and the slave device 205 can initiate or open any threadsthrough one or more sockets and/or via TCP connections to facilitatedata transfer. It should be appreciated that other wireless connectionsbetween the master device 204 and the slave device 205 are envisioned,such as a Wi-Fi connection.

Referring to FIG. 2, the master device 204 can send 220 a series ofnetwork latency pings to the slave device 205. Each of the pings caninclude a current system clock time as recorded by the master device204. In some embodiments, the current system clock time can correspondto an elapsed time relative to how long the master device 204 has beenpowered on. Upon receipt of the network latency ping, the slave device205 can compare the received system clock time from the master to itscurrent clock time to determine a difference in clock times and savethis difference to a memory. Further, the slave device 205 can send 222a series of receipt pings to the master device 204 and the master device204 can calculate 224 a network latency value based on a timingassociated with the receipt of the receipt pings. In particular, themaster device 204 can record a second system time corresponding to thetime that the master device 204 receives the receipt ping and cancalculate a round-trip network latency value based on the differencebetween the first system time and the second system time.

Additionally, the master device 204 can estimate the one-way networklatency value as half the difference between the first system time andthe second system time, or according to other calculations. In somefurther embodiments, the master device 204 can calculate the one-waynetwork latency value based on averaging multiple network latency pings.According to embodiments, the master device 204 can send 225 theestimated one-way network latency value to the slave device 205.

The slave device 205 can calculate 226 a system clock offset value basedon subtracting the estimated one-way network latency value received fromthe master device 204 from the difference in master and slave clocktimes previous saved by the slave device 205. According to someembodiments, the slave device 205 can optionally open 227 a command pipewith the master device 204 over which the slave device 205 can sendvarious commands, for example commands to control playback of an audiofile.

The master device 204 can select an audio file for playback and send 228an “audio file selected” command to the slave device 205. In someembodiments, a user can select the audio file via a user interface ofthe master device 204. Further, the master device 204 can initiate acorresponding audio playback application to facilitate the audioplayback and playback commands associated therewith. It should beappreciated that the audio file can be saved locally on the masterdevice 204 or can be retrieved from a remote server via a networkconnection (see FIG. 1 element 110). For example, the master device 204can “stream” an audio file from a remote server. The master device 204and the slave device 205 can establish 230 an audio playback sessionvia, for example, a dedicated connection using a thread command. Themaster device 204 can send 232 a portion of the audio file to the slavedevice 205 along with a timing instruction using the audio playbacksession, whereby the timing instruction can include the current systemtime for the master device 204. In some embodiments, the timinginstruction can include a specified time to play, a playback position toseek, or a current playback position playing. For example, the timingcommand can instruct the slave device 205 to start playing the portionof the audio file in 0.75 seconds, to start playing the portion of theaudio file 1.30 seconds after receipt, to start playing the audio fileat an elapsed time of 00:25.02, or according to other relative timingparameters. In some embodiments, the slave device 205 can notify a userafter the portion of the audio file is received.

The master device 204 can initiate 234 playback of the audio file andthe slave device 205 can initiate 236 playback of the audio fileaccording to the timing instruction as well as the system clock offsetvalue calculated in 226. Accordingly, the respective audio output fromthe master device 204 and the slave device 205 can be synced based onthe amount of time it takes for the master device 204 to send the audiofile to the slave device 205 (i.e., the network latency or amodification thereof). The master device 204 can send 238 additionalportion(s) of the audio file to the slave device 205 using the audioplayback session, whereby the master device 204 and the slave device 205can play the additional portion(s) as previously described withreference to 234, 236. The previously-sent timing instruction 232 may beapplied to the additional portions of the audio file. Consequently, theplayback of the audio file on the master device 204 and the slave device205 can be continuous and uninterrupted.

In some embodiments, the master device 204 can optionally confirm 240playback synchronization of the audio file at the slave device 205. Inparticular, the master device 204 can send an elapsed playback time ofthe audio file to the slave device 205 and the slave device 205 cancompare the master elapsed playback time to its own elapsed playbacktime. If the difference in elapsed playback times exceeds a thresholdamount (whereby the threshold amount is based on a predeterminedthreshold amount as well as the network latency value and/or timinginstruction), any slave device 205 that is out of sync can send anindication 241 to the master device 204 that the playback is out ofsync. If the playback is out of sync, this may trigger a re-performanceof network latency estimations 220, 222, 224, 225, 226 with theout-of-sync slave device 205. The master device 204 and/or theout-of-sync slave device 205 can adjust the playback of the audio fileto account for the discrepancy. For example, the master device 204 candelay its playback or can instruct the slave device 205 to increase itsplayback rate or skip to another portion of the audio file.

In some embodiments, the master device 204 can optionally send 242 aplayback command as well as an optional timing instruction to the slavedevice. For example, a user of the master device 204 can select topause, to fast forward or rewind the audio file (e.g., by dragging alonga time line corresponding to the audio file playback and thenreleasing), or to skip to another audio file or another playlist. Forfurther example, a user of the slave device 205 can make similarplayback selections and the slave device 205 can send the selections asrequests to the master device 204 to have the master device 204 modifythe playback accordingly. The master device 204 can perform 243 theplayback command. The slave device 205 can perform the playback commandin compliance with the timing instruction and the system clock offsetvalue, if applicable.

In some embodiments, the playback commands (e.g., fast forward, rewind,etc. as implemented by moving an indicator along a time line) can be avariant of confirming the playback synchronization per step 240. Forexample, assume that one second ago, 1:37 of the audio playback of acertain song had elapsed on the master device 204, and the user hasadjusted a slider bar so that the audio playback is now at 2:00. Then,the master device 204 can send a confirmation 240 sync request to theslave device 205 indicating that the audio playback is at 2:00. Theslave device 205 can receive the confirmation sync request and indicate241 that the slave device 205 is “out of sync.” Further, the slavedevice 205 can jump to the 2:00 mark of audio playback (plus anycompensation for network delay and optionally acoustic delay), and themaster device 204 and the slave device 205 can re-perform their networklatency calculations 220, 222, 224, 225, 226.

FIG. 3 depicts an example diagram 300 associated with a master device304 and a slave device 305 switching roles. Although FIG. 3 depicts onlythe master device 304 and one slave device 305, it should be appreciatedthat the functionalities of the diagram 300 can be implemented withmultiple slave devices. Further, it can be assumed that the masterdevice 304 and the slave device 305 have established a wirelessconnection and an audio playback session, as previously described withrespect to FIG. 2. According to embodiments, the master device 304 andthe slave device 305 can offer the same playback commands (see FIGS. 6and 7), however for the slave device 305 to become the new masterdevice, a user of the slave device 305 independently selects a new audiofile, playlist, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the master device 304 can initiate 334 playback ofan audio file (similar to 234 as described with respect to FIG. 2) andthe slave device 305 can initiate 336 playback of the audio fileaccording to a timing instruction as well as the system clock offsetvalue (similar to 236 as described with respect to FIG. 2).

The slave device 305 can detect 344 a selection of an additional audiofile, where the selection triggers a role change wherein the slavedevice 305 can become the new master device and the master device 304can become the new slave device. For example, the selection of theadditional audio file can be an audio file or playlist of audio filesstored on the slave device 305 or otherwise accessible by the slavedevice 305. The slave device 305 can send 346 a request to switch rolesto the master device 304 and the master device 304 can send 348 anotification of the role switch to the slave device 305. Upon receipt ofthe notification, the slave device 305 (now the new master device) cancalculate 350 a new network latency value and a new system clock offsetvalue with the master device 304 (now the new slave device) via a seriesof network latency pings and calculations, similar to 220, 222, 224,225, 226 as discussed with respect to FIG. 2.

The new master device 305 can establish 330 an additional audio playbacksession with the new slave device 304, similar to 230 as discussed withrespect to FIG. 2. The new master device 305 can send 332 a portion ofthe additional audio file to the new slave device as well as a newtiming instruction using the additional audio playback session, wherebythe new timing instruction can include a current system time of the newmaster device 305. The new master device 305 can initiate 334 playbackof the additional audio file and the new slave device 304 can initiate336 playback of the additional audio file according to the new timinginstruction as well as the new system clock offset value resulting from350, similar to 234 and 236 as discussed with respect to FIG. 2. Thusthe old slave device 305 becomes the new master device whereby theplayback commands 242, the sync confirmations 240, 241, and theadditional audio file portions transmittals 238 are still active, butnow for the new master device.

FIG. 4 depicts an example diagram 400 associated with a new slave device409 joining an existing audio session between a master device 404 and aslave device 405. It can be assumed that the master device 404 and theslave device 405 have established a wireless connection and an audioplayback session, as previously described with respect to FIG. 2. Asshown in FIG. 4, the master device 404 can initiate 434 playback of anaudio file (similar to 234 as described with respect to FIG. 2) and theslave device 405 can initiate 436 playback of the audio file accordingto a timing instruction (similar to 236 as described with respect toFIG. 2).

When within the proximity 107, the new slave device 409 can send 452 arequest to the master device 404 to join the audio playback sessionbetween the master device 404 and the slave device 405. The masterdevice 404 can calculate 454 a new network latency value and a newsystem clock offset value with the slave device 406 via a series ofnetwork latency pings and calculations, similar to 220, 222, 224, 225,226 as discussed with respect to FIG. 2. The master device 404 can add456 the slave device 409 to the audio playback session and can send 432a portion of the audio file, a current elapsed time of the audio fileplayback, and an additional timing instruction to the slave device 406using the audio playback session, whereby the additional timinginstruction can include the current system time for the master device404. The slave device 409 can initiate 436 playback of the audio file atthe current elapsed time according to the additional timing instructionas well as the new system clock offset value. Meanwhile the masterdevice 404 may initiate 234 playback of that portion of audio file, andthe first slave device 405 may initiate 236 playback of that portion ofthe audio file according to its timing instruction and system clockoffset value.

As shown in FIG. 4, the master device 404 can send 438, 439 anadditional portion of the audio file to the slave device 405 and theslave device 409 for playback on the respective slave devices 405, 406,as discussed with respect to 238 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments, themaster device 404 can send an additional timing instruction associatedwith the additional portion. The master device 404 can optionallyconfirm playback sync 440, 441, of the audio file with the slave device405 and the slave device 406, as discussed with respect to 240, 241 ofFIG. 2. In addition, the master device 404 can optionally modify 442,443 playback of the audio file based on playback commands received bythe master device 404, the slave device 405, and/or the slave device409, as discussed with respect to 242, 243, 244 of FIG. 2. For example,a user of the slave device 409 can request to pause playback of theaudio file, whereby the slave device 409 can send a pause commandrequest to the master device 404 and the master device can pause its ownplayback as well as send a pause command to the slave devices 405, 409to pause playback.

The embodiments as discussed herein can account for an audio latency forin-device hardware and software computing delays (a computing audiolatency) plus an acoustic “through air” delay, which excludes estimatednetwork latency delay. This audio latency can be determined using audiosync data playback and at least one microphone of one of the devices. Insome embodiments, when two devices initially form a group audio session,the NFC pairing can trigger a wireless connection and an initial networkdelay measurement as well as trigger an audio sync measurement processto determine an audio latency delay between the two devices. The audiosync measurement process, which can initiate while the devices are closeto each other (e.g., within a short NFC range), can utilize the initialnetwork delay ping results to instruct playback of orthogonal audio syncdata at the same time (based on network delay compensation) by bothdevices. The orthogonal audio sync data waveforms may be designed toinclude a wide frequency response and create a pleasant audio-feedbacksound so that users recognize that a new device has joined the groupaudio session (e.g., an up-chirp played by one device and a down-chirpplayed by another device). Alternately, the audio sync data may soundlike different types of noise (e.g., white noise played by one deviceand brown noise played by another device). Other types of orthogonalaudio sync data may also be used.

The master device can cross-correlate the audio from both devices asreceived at its microphone and can determine the differences between theaudio latency delay for the master device and the slave device. Themaster device can give the slave device a compensation value for theaudio latency delay so that the slave device can make its ownadjustments during playback, or the master device can use the networkdelay and the audio latency delay difference values to calculate updatedtiming instructions for audio playback. Alternately or additionally, theslave device may independently cross-correlate the audio from bothdevices as received at its microphone and determine the audio latencydelay for itself. The slave could then report its determined audiolatency delay difference to the master device as well as report itsdevice model (e.g., Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX).

It should be appreciated that additional devices may join the groupaudio session via the NFC connection. The NFC touch can be with anydevice currently in the group audio session (e.g., either the masterdevice or a slave device). The NFC detection can trigger a wirelessconnection and initial network delay measurement and can trigger anaudio sync measurement process between the additional device and the“inviting” device that is already in the group audio session asdescribed previously. In case additional devices join via a series ofslave devices (e.g., a daisy chain of additional devices), a table ofdevice models may be created by the master device and used to normalizethe hardware and software delay plus the acoustic “through air” delaydifference values on the assumption that devices of the same model wouldhave similar hardware and software delays plus similar acoustic “throughair” delays.

FIG. 5 depicts an example diagram 500 associated with a master device504 and one slave device 505 facilitating the audio sync measurementprocess to measure audio latency delay, which includes hardware andsoftware plus acoustic “through the air” delays and does not includenetwork latency. Although FIG. 5 depicts only the master device 504 andthe slave device 505, it should be appreciated that the functionalitiesof the diagram 500 can be implemented with multiple slave devices.Further, it can be assumed that the master device 504 and the slavedevice 505 have established a wireless connection or otherwise that themaster device 504 has initiated the wireless connection broadcast. Asshown in FIG. 5, the master device 504 can establish 530 an audioplayback session with the slave device 505, similar to 230 as describedwith respect to FIG. 2. To perform the audio latency measurement, themaster device 504 can send 558 an instruction to play audio sync data aswell as a corresponding timing instruction indicating a specified timeto the slave device 505 using the audio playback session. In someembodiments, the audio sync data can be a chirp (such as an up-chirp ora down-chirp) that can be used to gauge device hardware, devicesoftware, and “through the air” audio latencies (i.e., not networklatencies) and/or frequency response measurements.

The master device 504 can initiate 560 playback of the audio sync dataat the specified time after the master device 504 wirelessly connects(e.g., via an NFC pairing) to the slave device 505, and the slave device505 can initiate 562 playback of the audio sync data at the specifiedtime after the master device 504 connects to the slave device 505. Themaster device 504 can leverage an audio input component (e.g., amicrophone) to detect 564 audio from playback of the audio sync data onthe master device 504 and the slave device 505. Further, the masterdevice 504 can calculate 566 an audio latency time value from thedetected audio using, for example, a cross-correlation function. Inparticular, the audio latency time value can reflect any computing audiolatency plus acoustic “through the air” delay in the respective audiosync data playbacks on the master device 504 and the slave device 505.In some embodiments, such as if the audio sync data is a chirp, themaster device 504 can calculate new frequency values based on respectivefrequency response measurements of the master device 504 and/or theslave device 505.

Although not depicted in FIG. 5, it should be appreciated that the slavedevice 505 can detect the audio sync data playbacks (for example via amicrophone of the slave device 505), independently calculate an audiolatency time value, and adjust its audio playback timing accordingly.The master device 504 can send 568 to the slave device 505 a playbackmodification instruction based on the slave's calculated audio latencytime value, the master's calculated audio latency time value, or acombination of the master's and the slave's calculated audio latencytime value, and the slave device 505 can modify its playback of audiofiles accordingly.

In some embodiments, audio playback the group of devices can be modifiedbased on the detected audio frequency response and the dynamic range ofeach device. For example, one device may have a good bass frequencyresponse and another device may have a good treble frequency response.The comparative “good/better” frequency response of each device's audiospeakers may be detected during the audio sync measurement process. As aresult, the master device may provide the audio data and timinginstructions as well as frequency playback instructions and/or volumeinstructions.

FIGS. 6-11 depict example interfaces associated with an audio playbackapplication in accordance with some embodiments. According toembodiments, each of the master and the slave device(s) can execute theaudio playback application and display the example interfaces onrespective user interfaces. FIG. 6 depicts an example interface 600 thata master device can display on a user interface. The interface 600indicates an audio file that the master device can play, and canindicate metadata associated with the audio file such as song title 605,artist 608, album artwork 610, total file play time 620, elapsed fileplay time 625, and/or other data. The interface 600 further includesvarious playback selections 690 that correspond to playback commandsthat can be selected by a user of the master device. For example asshown in FIG. 6, the playback selections 690 include a previous trackselection 692, a pause (or play) selection 694, a next track selection696, and a repeat selection 698. The interface 600 also includes are-sync selection 699 that, when selected, causes the master device toissue a command to each slave device to send respective current playbacklocations. The interface 600 additionally indicates a progress of theaudio track playback 625 and enables the user to navigate to otherplayback points of the audio track.

Referring to FIG. 7, depicted is an example interface 700 that a slavedevice can display on a user interface. The interface 700 includes thesame or similar content as the interface 600, including playbackselections 790 that mirror the playback selections 690 and enable a userof the slave device to request control playback of the audio file(s).Accordingly, the users of slave devices can view the same currentlyplaying content and information 705, 708, 710, 720, 725 as the user ofthe master device, as well as effectively control playback 792, 794,796, 798 of the audio files in a similar manner as the user of themaster device. The interface 700 also includes a re-sync selection 799that, when selected, causes the slave device and its master device torepeat the network latency pings and system clock offset valuecalculations. Although not depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, it should beappreciated that other playback selections or controls are envisioned.

Referring to FIG. 8, depicted is an example interface 800 that a slavedevice and/or a master device can display on a user interface. Theinterface 800 enables a user to browse and/or select various albums thatare available for playback. It should be appreciated that variousgestures, such as scrolling, are supported to enable the user tonavigate through the interface 800. If a user selects one of the albumsof the interface 800, the slave device and/or the master device candisplay details for the selected album, for example as shown in aninterface 900 of FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, the interface 900 displaysdetails for the album “Album A” by Artist A. The interface 900 includesselections for the songs on the album “Album A” and enables the user toselect one or more of the songs for playback. For example, referring toFIG. 10, an interface 1000 depicts a playback of the song “Song A1” thatthe user has selected from the album details. As shown in FIG. 10, theinterface 1000 includes playback selections 1090 that enable the user tocontrol playback of the song and to navigate to other songs. It shouldbe appreciated that a slave device and/or a master device can displaythe interface 1000.

Referring to FIG. 11, depicted is a detailed interface 1100 capable ofbeing displayed by a slave device and/or a master device. The interface1110 includes an audio latency adjuster 1192 that enables the user ofthe slave device and/or the master device to adjust playback timing forthe respective device. According to embodiments, the device can have anaudio latency time value that represents an elapsed time for audio topropagate through the device from its controller module or processor tothe output component or speaker as detected by a microphone of thedevice, and the audio latency adjuster 1192 enables the user to add orsubtract time from this value to sync playback of the audio.

In some cases as shown in FIG. 11, the audio latency adjuster 1192 canindicate the calculated audio latency time value for the device (asshown: 79 ms) as the center of a sliding adjuster 1196 with a selector1197 overlaid thereon. The user of the device can adjust the selector1197 to add (e.g., by sliding to the right) or subtract (e.g., bysliding to the left) time that the device can add to or subtract fromany playback timing instructions. For example, if the user slides theselector 1197 to the right side of the sliding adjustor 1196, the devicecan add a corresponding amount of milliseconds to the playback timinginstructions, which can be shown as an updated number in the text box1198. As an alternate adjustment, a user may type a number directly inthe text box 1198. It should be appreciated that the master device can,according to any adjustments on the audio latency adjuster 1192, adjustits own playback timing or can send instructions to the slave device toadjust its playback timing. Further, it should be appreciated that theslave device can adjust its own playback timing according to anyadjustments on its own audio latency adjuster 1192. Although the audiolatency adjuster 1192 as shown in FIG. 11 has a range of 100 ms withexample values, it should be appreciated that other ranges and valuesare envisioned. In some embodiments, the user can use the audio latencyadjuster 1192 adjustments to produce a “bigger” sound or to introduce areverb effect.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method 1200 for a master electronic deviceto facilitate audio playback on multiple electronic devices. The method1200 begins with the master device establishing 1211 a wirelessconnection between itself and one or more slave devices. According toembodiments, the wireless connection can be established via an NFCpairing and/or a Wi-Fi Direct or other wireless connection. Because themaster device is in close proximity to the one or more slave devices,the master device can optionally test 1212 for any hardware and softwarelatency or acoustic delay via audio received by a microphone of themaster device, as discussed herein with respect to measuring an acousticlatency time value. The master device can send 1213 a network latencyrequest along with its current system time to the slave device(s) at afirst system time. According to embodiments, the slave device(s) canstore the current system time of the master device. The master devicecan receive 1215 a response from the slave device(s) at a second systemtime. In embodiments, the response can include a confirmation that theslave device(s) received the request. The master device can determine1217 whether to repeat the network latency requests. If the masterdevice determines to repeat the network latency requests (“YES”),processing can return to 1213. If the master device determines to notrepeat the network latency requests (“NO”), the master device cancalculate 1219 a one-way network latency for the slave device(s) basedon the system times. In some embodiments in which there are multipleslave devices, the master device can determine different networklatencies for respective slave devices based on the responses from themultiple slave devices and optionally add acoustic latencies. Inembodiments, the master device can send 1220 the additional one-waynetwork latency to the slave device(s), which the slave device(s) canuse along with the stored system time for the master device and its ownsystem time to calculate a system clock offset value(s). In embodiments,the master device can send respective network latencies to respectiveslave devices to eliminate lag from the system clock offset valuecalculation performed by the slave devices.

The master device can select 1221 an audio file. In some cases, a userof the master device can select the audio file via a user interface. Themaster device can establish 1223 an audio playback session with theslave device(s) using the wireless connection. The master device cansend 1225, using the audio playback session, at least a portion of theaudio file to the slave device(s) for playback on the slave device(s)according to a timing instruction that can include a current system timeof the master device. According to embodiments, the slave device(s) canuse the current system time of the master device along with thepreviously-calculated system clock offset value to schedule or initiateplayback of the portion of the audio file. According to embodiments, thetiming instruction can be the same for each slave device and can includea specified time to play, a playback position to seek, a currentplayback position playing, or the like. For example, the timinginstruction can instruct the slave device to start playback of theportion of the audio file in 1.43 seconds, or 0.21 seconds afterreceipt, or at a playback position of 00:01.35 seconds, or according toother relative times. The master device can initiate or continue 1227playback of the audio file. The slave device can also initiate orcontinue playback of the audio file according to the timing instructionas well as a calculated difference in system times of the master deviceand the slave device.

The master device can determine 1229 if a playback selection isdetected. If a playback selection is not detected (“NO”), the masterdevice determines 1231 if the synchronization should be confirmed. Inembodiments, either the master device or the slave device(s) (or usersthereof) can initiate the confirmation request. If the sync confirmationhas not been initiated (“NO”), the master device determines 1233 whetherto add an additional slave device, such as if an additional slave devicehas requested to join the audio playback session. If the master devicedetermines that there are no additional slave devices to add (“NO”), themaster device can determine 1235 whether the audio file or a playlistthat includes the audio file is complete. If the audio file or theplaylist is not complete (“NO”), processing can return to 1225 in whichthe master device can send an additional portion of the audio file tothe slave device(s) or can send a portion of an additional audio file(such as an additional audio file of the playlist) to the slavedevice(s). If the audio file or the playlist is complete in 1235(“YES”), processing can end, repeat, or return or proceed to any otherfunctionality.

If the master device detects a playback selection in 1229 (“YES”),processing can proceed to “C” as detailed in FIG. 13. In embodiments,the playback command can correspond to pause, play, rewind, fastforward, or the like, and can be detected via a user interface of themaster device or as a request received from the slave device. The masterdevice can modify 1337 the playback of the audio file according to theplayback selection. Further, the master device can send 1347 theplayback command to the slave device(s) for modification of the playbackof the audio file on the slave device(s). For example, if the playbackcommand is a pause command, the master device can pause its playback ofthe audio file and also send a command to the slave device(s) to pauseits respective playback(s). In embodiments, processing can proceed to“B” (i.e., 1225 of FIG. 12) or to any other functionality.

If the master device detects a request to confirm synchronization in1231 (“YES”), processing can proceed to “D” as detailed in FIG. 14. Inparticular, the master device can send 1349 a current audio position ofthe playback of the audio file to the slave device(s), along with arequest to determine whether a respective slave device is out of sync.According to embodiments, the slave device(s) can compare the currentaudio position to its own elapsed playback position to determine whetherits playback is out of sync with the playback of the master device. Themaster device can receive 1351 a sync indication from the slavedevice(s). The master device can examine the sync indication todetermine 1352 if the slave device(s) is out of sync. If the slavedevice(s) is not of out sync (i.e., the slave device(s) is in sync)(“NO”), processing can proceed to “B” (i.e., 1225 of FIG. 12) or to anyother functionality. In contrast, if the slave device(s) is out of sync(“YES”), processing can proceed to “A” (i.e., 1213 of FIG. 12) or to anyother functionality.

If the master device determines to add an additional slave device in1233 (“YES”), such as if the additional slave device requests to jointhe audio session, processing can proceed to “E” as detailed in FIG. 15.In particular, the master device can send 1353 a network latency requestcontaining a third system time (i.e., the current system time of themaster device) to the additional slave device at the third system time.According to embodiments, the additional slave device can store thethird system time. The master device can receive 1355 a response fromthe additional slave device at a fourth system time. In embodiments, theresponse can include a confirmation that the additional slave devicereceived the request. The master device can determine 1357 whether torepeat the network latency requests. If the master device determines torepeat the network latency requests (“YES”), processing can return to1353. If the master device determines to not repeat the network latencyrequests (“NO”), the master device can calculate 1359 an additionalone-way network latency for the additional slave device based on thesystem times. In embodiments, the master device can send 1360 theadditional one-way network latency to the additional slave device, whichthe additional slave device can use along with the stored system timefor the master device and its own system time to calculate an additionalsystem clock offset value.

The master device can add 1361 the additional slave device to the audioplayback session, such as via a socket of the additional slave device.The master device sends 1363, using the audio playback session, at leastthe portion of the audio file to the additional slave device forplayback on the additional slave device according to an additionaltiming instruction that can include a current system time of the masterdevice. The additional slave device can use this current system time ofthe master device along with the previously-calculated system clockoffset value to schedule or initiate playback of the portion of theaudio file. According to embodiments, the additional timing instructioncan include a specified time to play, a playback position to seek, acurrent playback position playing, or the like. In embodiments,processing can proceed to “B” (i.e., 1225 of FIG. 12) or to any otherfunctionality.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example electronic device 1670 in which thefunctionalities as discussed herein may be implemented. The electronicdevice 1670 can include a processor 1681 or other similar type ofcontroller module or microcontroller, as well as a memory 1678. Thememory 1678 can store an operating system 1679 capable of facilitatingthe functionalities as discussed herein as well as audio data 1680corresponding to any locally-stored audio files. The processor 1681 caninterface with the memory 1678 to execute the operating system 1679 andretrieve the audio data 1680, as well as execute a set of applications1671 such as an audio playback application 1672 (which the memory 1678can also store). The memory 1678 can include one or more forms ofvolatile and/or non-volatile, fixed and/or removable memory, such asread-only memory (ROM), electronic programmable read-only memory(EPROM), random access memory (RAM), erasable electronic programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), and/or other hard drives, flash memory,MicroSD cards, and others. The processor 1681 can further interface witha clock 1683 configured to identify and manage various system times aswell as schedule actions based on the system times and/or any measuredacoustic latencies.

The electronic device 1670 can further include a communication module1675 configured to interface with the one or more external ports 1673 tocommunicate data via one or more networks 1610. For example, thecommunication 1675 can leverage the external ports 1673 to establish TCPconnections for connecting the electronic device 1670 to otherelectronic devices via a Wi-Fi Direct connection. According to someembodiments, the communication module 1675 can include one or moretransceivers functioning in accordance with IEEE standards, 3GPPstandards, or other standards, and configured to receive and transmitdata via the one or more external ports 1673. More particularly, thecommunication module 1675 can include one or more WWAN transceiversconfigured to communicate with a wide area network including one or morecell sites or base stations to communicatively connect the electronicdevice 1670 to additional devices or components. For example, thetransceiver can receive remotely-stored audio data via the network 1610.Further, the communication module 1670 can include one or more WLANand/or WPAN transceivers configured to connect the electronic device1670 to local area networks and/or personal area networks, such as aBluetooth® network. The electronic device 1670 further includes one ormore data sockets 1676 through which audio playback sessions with otherdevices can be established, as discussed herein.

The electronic device 1670 can further include one or more sensors 1682such as, for example, imaging sensors, accelerometers, touch sensors,and other sensors, as well as NFC components 1684 such as an NFC chipand/or an NFC tag for pairing the electronic device 1670 with one ormore other electronic devices. The electronic device 1670 can include anaudio module 1677 including hardware components such as a speaker 1685for outputting audio and a microphone 1686 for detecting or receivingaudio. The electronic device 1670 may further include a user interface1674 to present information to the user and/or receive inputs from theuser. As shown in FIG. 16, the user interface 1674 includes a displayscreen 1687 and I/O components 1688 (e.g., capacitive or resistive touchsensitive input panels, keys, buttons, lights, LEDs, cursor controldevices, haptic devices, and others). The user interface 1647 can alsoinclude the speaker 1685 and the microphone 1686. In embodiments, thedisplay screen 1687 is a touchscreen display using singular orcombinations of display technologies and can include a thin, transparenttouch sensor component superimposed upon a display section that isviewable by a user. For example, such displays include capacitivedisplays, resistive displays, surface acoustic wave (SAW) displays,optical imaging displays, and the like.

In general, a computer program product in accordance with an embodimentincludes a computer usable storage medium (e.g., standard random accessmemory (RAM), an optical disc, a universal serial bus (USB) drive, orthe like) having computer-readable program code embodied therein,wherein the computer-readable program code is adapted to be executed bythe processor 1681 (e.g., working in connection with the operatingsystem 1679) to facilitate the functions as described herein. In thisregard, the program code may be implemented in any desired language, andmay be implemented as machine code, assembly code, byte code,interpretable source code or the like (e.g., via C, C++, Java,Actionscript, Objective-C, Javascript, CSS, XML, and/or others).

Thus, it should be clear from the preceding disclosure that the systemsand methods offer improved audio playback techniques. The embodimentsadvantageously enable multiple electronic devices to simultaneously playaudio tracks while accounting for network and acoustic latencies. Theembodiments improve the user experience by improving the setup of acollective audio playback session as well as reducing the amount ofplayback delay between or among electronic devices.

This disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use variousembodiments in accordance with the technology rather than to limit thetrue, intended, and fair scope and spirit thereof. The foregoingdescription is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to theprecise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The embodiment(s) were chosen anddescribed to provide the best illustration of the principle of thedescribed technology and its practical application, and to enable one ofordinary skill in the art to utilize the technology in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations arewithin the scope of the embodiments as determined by the appendedclaims, as may be amended during the pendency of this application forpatent, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: joining, by an audioplayback device, an audio playback group, wherein the audio playbackgroup includes a master device that provides information for playback ofaudio content by the audio playback group; receiving, by the audioplayback device from the master device, a timing signal and timinginformation associated with audio data to be played by the audioplayback device in a slave role as part of the audio playback group;playing, by the audio playback device via a first audio output componentof the audio playback device, the audio data at a time based on thetiming signal, the timing information, and a clock of the audio playbackdevice; receiving, by the audio playback device, a user input at a userinterface of the audio playback device, the user input associated withmodifying playback of the audio data; transmitting, by the audioplayback device to the master device, a playback command request basedon the user input received at the user interface, wherein the masterdevice (i) modifies playback of the audio data via a second audio outputcomponent of the master device according to the playback commandrequest, and (ii) transmits, to the audio playback device, a playbackcommand based on the playback command request received from the audioplayback device; receiving, by the audio playback device from the masterdevice, the playback command based on the playback command request; andmodifying, by the audio playback device, playback of the audio data viathe first audio output component based on the playback command receivedfrom the master device such that the audio data is played back, insynchrony, via the first audio output component of the audio playbackdevice and via the second audio output component of the master device.2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the playback of the audiodata via the first audio output component based on the playback commandis performed in synchrony with the master device modifying the playbackof the audio data via the second audio output component of the masterdevice according to the playback command request.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the user input at the user interface of the audio playbackdevice comprises a user activation of a pause button, wherein theplayback command is a pause command, and wherein modifying the playbackof the audio data via the first audio output component based on theplayback command includes pausing the playback of the audio data insynchrony with the master device pausing the playback of the audio data.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the audioplayback device from the master device, a second playback command basedon an additional user input at the master device; and modifying, by theaudio playback device, the playback of the audio data based on thesecond playback command.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the userinput at the user interface of the audio playback device comprises auser activation of a pause/play button on the user interface of theaudio playback device, wherein the playback command is a pause command,wherein modifying the playback of the audio data via the first audiooutput component based on the playback command includes pausing theplayback of the audio data in synchrony with the master device pausingthe playback of the audio data, wherein the second playback command is aplay command, wherein modifying the playback of the audio data via thefirst audio output component based on the second playback commandincludes resuming the playback of the audio data via the first audiooutput component in synchrony with the master device resuming theplayback of the audio data, and wherein modifying the playback of theaudio data based on the second playback command is performedadditionally based on a difference between the clock of the audioplayback device and a clock of the master device.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising: joining, by a second audio playback device, theaudio playback group; and transmitting, by the audio playback device tothe second audio playback device, the playback command request based onthe user input.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the playbackof the audio data via the first audio output component based on theplayback command is performed in synchrony with the master devicemodifying the playback of the audio data based on the playback commandrequest and in synchrony with the second audio playback device modifyingplayback of audio data based on the playback command request.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: joining, by a second audioplayback device, the audio playback group; and transmitting, by themaster device to the second audio playback device, the playback command.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio playback device does notsend the playback command request to the second audio playback device.10. The method of claim 8, wherein modifying the playback of the audiodata via the first audio output component based on the playback commandis performed in synchrony with the master device adjusting the playbackof the audio data based on the playback command and in synchrony withthe second audio playback device modifying playback of audio data basedon the playback command.
 11. An audio playback device comprising: acommunication component for connecting the audio playback device to amaster device to form an audio playback group for playback of audio; auser interface; a first audio output component; and a controller moduleinterfaced with the communication component, the user interface, and thefirst audio output component, and configured to: receive, from themaster device via the communication component, a timing signal andtiming information associated with audio data to be played by the audioplayback device in a slave role as part of the audio playback group,cause the first audio output component to output the audio data at atime based on the timing signal, the timing information, and a clock ofthe audio playback device, receive, via the user interface, a selectioncorresponding to a playback command associated with modifying playbackof the audio data, transmit, to the master device via the communicationcomponent, a playback command request corresponding to the playbackcommand, wherein the master device (i) modifies playback of the audiodata via a second audio output component of the master device accordingto the playback command request, and (ii) transmits, to the audioplayback device, the playback command based on the playback commandrequest received from the audio playback device, receive, from themaster device via the communication component, the playback commandbased on the playback command request, and cause the first audio outputcomponent to modify playback of the audio data based on the playbackcommand received from the master device such that the audio data isplayed back, in synchrony, via the first audio output component of theaudio playback device and via the second audio output component of themaster device.
 12. The audio playback device of claim 11, wherein theplayback command is a pause command, and wherein to cause the firstaudio output component to modify the playback of the audio data, thecontroller module is configured to: cause the first audio outputcomponent to pause the playback of the audio data in synchrony with themaster device pausing the playback of the audio data.
 13. The audioplayback device of claim 11, wherein the controller module is furtherconfigured to: receive, from the master device via the communicationcomponent, an additional playback command corresponding to a userselection at the master device, and cause the first audio outputcomponent to modify the playback of the audio data based on theadditional playback command.
 14. The audio playback device of claim 11,wherein the controller module is further configured to: detect that anadditional audio playback device joined the audio playback group, andtransmit, to the additional audio playback device via the communicationcomponent, the playback command request.
 15. The audio playback deviceof claim 11, wherein the controller module causes the first audio outputcomponent to modify the playback of the audio data in synchrony with themaster device modifying the playback of the audio data based on theplayback command and in synchrony with an additional audio playbackdevice of the audio playback group modifying playback of audio databased on the playback command.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions whenexecuted by a processor causing the processor to perform operationscomprising: joining, by an audio playback device, an audio playbackgroup including a master device, the audio playback group configured forplayback of audio content; receiving, by the audio playback device fromthe master device, a timing signal and timing information associatedwith audio data to be played by the audio playback device in a slaverole as part of the audio playback group; initiating playback, by theaudio playback device via a first audio output component of the audioplayback device, of the audio data at a time based on the timing signal,the timing information, and a clock of the audio playback device;receiving, at the audio playback device, a selection corresponding to aplayback command associated with modifying playback of the audio data;sending, by the audio playback device to the master device, a playbackcommand request corresponding to the playback command, wherein themaster device (i) modifies playback of the audio data via a second audiooutput component of the master device according to the playback commandrequest, and (ii) transmits, to the audio playback device, the playbackcommand based on the playback command request received from the audioplayback device; receiving, by the audio playback device from the masterdevice, the playback command based on the playback command request; andperforming, by the audio playback device, the playback command receivedfrom the master device to modify the playback of the audio data via thefirst audio output component such that the audio data is played back, insynchrony, via the first audio output component of the audio playbackdevice and via the second audio output component of the master device.17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16,wherein the playback command is a pause command, and wherein performingthe playback command comprises: performing the pause command to pausethe playback of the audio data.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:receiving, by the audio playback device from the master device, anadditional playback command corresponding to a user selection at themaster device; and performing, by the audio playback device, theadditional playback command to modify the playback of the audio data.19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16,wherein the operations further comprise: detecting that an additionalaudio playback device joined the audio playback group; and sending, bythe audio playback device to the additional audio playback device, theplayback command request.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 16, wherein performing the playback commandreceived from the master device to modify the playback of the audio datais in synchrony with the master device modifying the playback of theaudio data based on the playback command and in synchrony with anadditional audio playback device of the audio playback group modifyingplayback of audio data based on the playback command.